With the whole Covid-19 pandemic going around, it has been days since most of us had stepped out. Maybe weeks, even months on a global view. Well, as of India, the 21-day lockdown has been going pretty decent than most of us expected. Many have shown a greater degree of discipline and cooperation. Except for certain provision stores and pharmacies, almost all business operations have been closed. Lucky are those of you who already foresaw this and stacked up enough snacks and foods for ‘Netflix and chill time’. As young adults, we are concerned about that, while the adults, not all of them but a few are concerned about something else. Liquor.
All the liquor stores are closed since the commencing of this 21-day lockdown. Keeping aside the economic loss due to this move, if we look deeper, liquor sales are still going on. Of course! Didn’t we learn in economics? Demand increases, supply also increases. Well in this situation, I don’t believe that supply has gotten any bigger, but the demand side sure did. People are willing to pay up to 300% more than the normal rate to get their hands on an approximately 180ml bottle of booze. Upon interviewing a few locals in and around Perambur surrounding in Chennai, Tamilnadu, they revealed cases where people they know have purchased liquor worth 5000 rupees for the cost of 15,000 rupees. Now that is something serious.
Upon asking how the sellers are getting supply in this black market, sources say that these goods are stolen crates of liquor! The suppliers tend to break in and sneak into the closed liquor stores located in the outskirts, and then steal their stash which is then supplied in the black market. You won’t believe me, the sales are going flawlessly, how much ever the demand has increased, the supply is fulfilling it. We are not sure as of yet if this is known to the authorities or not but I really hope they do soon and take the needed measures to stop it. Not because liquor is injurious, but during this pandemic phase, this black market trade can increase the spread and create more carriers.
As literate people, it is our responsibility to spread awareness about this to those who are not aware of it. Corona can be bought down when we realize that this is not a global pandemic, but our own pandemic. Wake up guys!
Thanks for spreading awareness. This really shows the gravity of addiction as people are ready to choose this as opposed to being safe from a pandemic.